Simplicity Is The Ultimate Sophistication

Back in my early university days, I came across the KISS principle in some business class which I can only now vaguely remember. Although that time has long since past, the idea of ‘Keep It Simple Stupid’ which can trace its origin to a U.S. Navy design principle, stuck with me.

Essentially what this boils down to is not overcomplicated things. If you take that familiar Italian combo of light blue shirt and dark blue tie as an example, it works because of a certain elegant simplicity especially when worn with a darker blue or mid grey suit and richly patinated brown shoes.

The surprising result of wearing this type of outfit is that you will usually end up looking more polished than someone who is making a great effort combining a variety colours and patterns in the same ensemble proving the merit of Leonardo daVinci’s quote “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”.

Illustrating this principle is style writer Kamau F. Hosten of Proper As Hell.